Artist Hito Steyerl demands that state-run German art institutions stop showing her work

Hito Steyerl states support for Rojava in performance at Berlin theatre demanding German state run institutions stop showing her work.

Artist Hito Steyerl demands that state-run German art institutions stop showing her work until Germany changes its policy toward the Turkish invasion of Kurdish areas in northeast Syria, known as Rojava.

The invasion is threatening the independent rule of Rojava where a social revolution has been taking place. The self-declared independent region has implemented a regime based on grass-roots and community organisations, where women have dominant roles in both government and the army. A very radical and libertarian form of governance.

The Rojava constitution guarantees the cultural, religious and political freedom of all people and explicitly states equal rights and freedom of women, and mandates public institutions to work towards the elimination of gender discrimination.

Steyerl made her protest as Turkey threatens to resume its military campaign against Kurdish fighters in the Turkish-Syrian border region. Steyerl was joined by actor and theater producer Anina Jendreyko, Kurdish filmmaker and musician Heja Netirk, and the political scientist Bilgin Ayata at Berlin’s Maxim Gorki Theater on Saturday, October 26. where they presented their performance: Women for Rojava.